Chapter 248: Vivian's Conspiracy

Chapter 248: Vivian's Conspiracy

Vivian, who used to be so high and mighty, could only hide in the shadows now, listening to people cursing outside.

In just a few days, those business partners who used to suck up to her had all terminated their contracts.

The bank's payment notices came one after another, freezing all of the Bell Group's accounts.

Even the company janitor, afraid of not getting paid, ran off with rolls of toilet paper.

Vivian had been starving all day, her stomach burning with pain.

She looked out through the gap under the desk, her eyes empty and unfocused.

Gone. Everything was gone.

Her family background, her dignity—all crushed to pieces by Noah for Phoebe's sake.

Just then, her phone suddenly buzzed.

It was a news notification.

"The White Group CEO Noah Ruthlessly Protects His Wife, Vivian Becomes Discarded Pawn, Elite Family Dream Shattered"

The photo showed that rainy night—Noah carefully protecting Phoebe as they entered the house, while Vivian lay miserably in the muddy water.

A roar erupted from Vivian's throat as she hurled her phone at the wall, smashing it to pieces.

"I won't accept this, I won't accept this!"

She clutched her hair, her nails scratching her scalp until it bled, her eyes bloodshot and cold. "Phoebe, you ruined me. If I can't live, you won't either!"

...

The White Mansion, main hall.

The atmosphere was stifling.

Noah sat in the main seat on the sofa, legs crossed, playing with a lighter in his hand.

The flame flickered on and off, reflecting his expressionless face.

Across from him stood his father, Edward.

Edward was shaking with rage, pointing at Noah's nose and cursing, "You bastard! Do you know what you're doing? The Bell family has been friends with us for generations! Sarah came begging to me; she even knelt down to your mother! And you're trying to destroy the Bell family?"

Noah didn't even lift his eyelids. "The Bell family brought it on themselves."

"For a woman who's been in prison?" Edward's eyes widened in disbelief. "What's so great about that, Phoebe? She's got you completely bewitched! We watched Vivian grow up. She just made a small mistake—did you have to be so ruthless?"

"A small mistake?"

Noah closed the lighter.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes cold, staring straight at Edward.

"Vivian framed Phoebe and sent her to prison for three years. In prison, the people Vivian bribed held Phoebe underwater and nearly drowned her. And her leg—Vivian threatened me into breaking it."

Noah's voice was flat, but carried a bone-chilling coldness. "Dad, in your eyes, are all these just small mistakes?"

Edward choked, then stubbornly said, "That's also because Phoebe wasn't decent herself! Besides, is it worth ruining the relationship between the two families over Phoebe? I'm ordering you to restore the Bell family's cash flow immediately!"

"Enough!"

From the stairway came an elderly, angry shout.

Larry, leaning on his cane and supported by the butler, walked down step by step.

His face was ashen, his authoritative gaze sweeping over Edward before finally settling on Noah.

"Grandfather." Noah lowered his head slightly in greeting.

Larry took a deep breath, looked at Edward, his eyes full of disappointment.

"Edward, you've disappointed me greatly."

"Dad! It's Noah who—"

"Shut up!" Larry struck the floor heavily with his cane. "Going against me for an outsider? Have you lost your mind?"

Edward immediately deflated, not daring to speak.

Larry walked to the coffee table and said coldly, "Starting today, I'm taking back all the shares and assets in your hands. You want to help the Bell family? Go help them penniless!"

"Dad! I'm your own son!" Edward knelt on the ground, completely panicked.

"Take him away!" Larry waved his hand.

Several bodyguards immediately rushed in, grabbed Edward's arms, and, ignoring his cries and struggles, forcibly dragged him out.

...

The rain had stopped, but the sky was still gloomy.

Vivian limped along, wearing a black baseball cap pulled low, covering most of her face.

She wore a cheap hoodie bought from a street stall, carrying a black plastic bag.

She walked into a hardware store in the suburban area.

"Do you have liquid explosives?"

The shop owner was a middle-aged man with a fleshy face. He looked her up and down, blew out a smoke ring, and said, "What liquid explosives? Don't know what you're talking about."

Vivian bit her lip and pulled out a stack of crumpled bills from her pocket—money she got from selling her last designer bag.

The owner's eyes lit up. He grabbed the money, counted it, then pulled out an unlabeled glass bottle and a small box from under the counter.

"This water in the bottle—don't let it touch your skin, or you're done for."

Vivian took the items, her hands trembling.

She stuffed them into her bag and disappeared into the dim alley.

Just as she walked out of the alley, she saw a news report on a TV in a convenience store.

"Larry of the White Group announced that this weekend, a grand family banquet will be held at The White Mansion, where Noah and Phoebe will officially get engaged."

"Engaged."

Vivian stared at Phoebe's name on the screen, a twisted smile forming on her lips.

"Perfect, an engagement banquet. Good, the more people the better."

She touched the cold glass bottle in her bag, her eyes venomous. "Larry, since you won't give the Bell family a way out, don't blame me for giving you a big gift at your banquet. And Phoebe, you and that bastard in your belly should die too."

Vivian didn't go straight back to her place. Instead, she limped around to the back mountain of The White Mansion.

This was a place she used to visit often. She knew there was a section of wall that had deteriorated over time, with a dog-sized gap hidden by weeds that no one had discovered.

She pushed aside the wet grass and crawled through.

The White Mansion was huge, with deep courtyards.

Vivian hid behind a large tree, observing the surroundings. The servants were all busy setting up for the banquet, and no one noticed the shadow in the corner.

She rehearsed the scene in her mind over and over.

Just as Vivian was absorbed in her plan, footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.

She froze, about to run, when a mocking voice rang out.

"Isn't this Vivian? Why are you sneaking around here?"

Vivian spun around.

Standing behind her was Neil.

"Neil?" Vivian stepped back warily, her hand reaching into her bag and gripping the glass bottle.

If he dared to call for help, she'd take him down with her.

Neil saw her movement but didn't call anyone.

He walked closer, taking in her shabby appearance and those malicious eyes.

"How pathetic." Neil shook his head mockingly. "The once noble Vivian, how did you end up like this?"

"None of your damn business!" Vivian said through gritted teeth. "If you're going to turn me in, just do it. Stop talking!"

"Turn you in?"

Neil laughed as if he'd heard a joke, waving his hand. "Why would I turn you in? I'm not Noah."

He leaned closer to Vivian, lowering his voice, his eyes glinting with malice.

"You're here to cause trouble for Phoebe, aren't you?"

Vivian froze but said nothing.

Neil smiled, a meaningful smile.

"I'm not fond of the child in that woman's belly either."

He pulled a card from his pocket and pressed it into Vivian's hand.

"This is the access card for the back door. Saturday night, I'll have someone do maintenance on the surveillance there for half an hour."